Associations Report Donations Product Demand

ASSOCIATIONS REPORT DONATIONS, PRODUCT DEMANDSeveral textile associations report their members are responding to last months terrorist attacks on New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania with donations of cash and goods. Others say members are receiving orders to replace textile goods used in the rescue and response operations.The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) reports heavy demands for member goods such as flags, military textiles, threads for body bags and even booties for rescue dogs. IFAi is gathering information from its members on its website, www.IFAI.com.The Hoisery Assn. (THA) asks for donations of socks, T-shirts and underwear on its web site at www.hoiseryassociation.com. THA president Sid Smith says about 30 hoisery manufacturers have sent products to rescue workers.Smith also says the association has been a source of information to its members since the attacks. One piece of this information was notifying members that U.S. Customs had a large office in the World Trade Center and that any issues pending at that office would likely be delayed.In the days after the attack, the association sent word to its members about the expected impact of the attacks, including sales losses from closed shopping malls and cancellation of events at New Yorks Fashion Week.Most associations reported members making significant donations to the rescue and recovery efforts. None of the groups reported members suffering direct losses as a result of the attacks.October 2001